Sunday, June 22, 2014

3,000 Root Beer Floats for a Duggar-Sized Wedding

What type of event calls for 3,000 root beer floats, 3,000 cookies, and 600 cupcakes? A Duggar wedding, of course!

Derick Dillard and Jill Duggar (now Jill Dillard) celebrated their marriage commitment with 1,000 of their closest friends and family members.

"I'm so grateful to all the volunteers who helped put everything
together for the wedding," Michelle Duggar told PEOPLE. "Everyone has worked
hard and done an amazing job."

Following the ceremony, wedding guests enjoyed a reception of sweet and salty snacks outside Cross Church in Springdale, Arkansas. The receiving line was long, as the couple greeted attendees from more than 30 states.

In addition to other decorations, the couple displayed Michelle's wedding dress from 1984 and one of Derick's father's police uniforms. Rick Dillard passed away in 2008. Derick's mother, Cathy, is battling cancer and came to the wedding directly from the hospital.

"We want to think about the importance of marriage," Jill told PEOPLE. "And what it means to be married."

What role did Josh play at the wedding? He served as emcee and tried to convince guests to chow down on the wedding cake.

After the reception, Derick and Jill departed for their mystery honeymoon location in a vintage pickup truck. The couple saved their first kiss for the altar and said afterwards that it was worth the wait.

I feel compelled to say that I don't agree with the implication that the food described constitutes gluttony. First, it is highly unlikely that this is an accurate description of the food and drink served. Elsewhere on this blog, the food is actually described quite differently. Secondly, even if it is an accurate description, three drinks, three cookies and a cupcake per person is not unreasonable to make available for an afternoon wedding reception. I certainly have had at least three drinks at most weddings that I have attended, and hosts generally always ensure that there is more food than needed on these special occasions. What would people say if the numbers indicated that there might not have been enough food for the attendees? I think that likely would have produced comments degrading the Duggars for being poor hosts. As a fan of the show, I admire this family and I enjoy hearing details about Jill's wedding. I am sure that both Derick and Jill were actively involved in planning their wedding, as are most couples. The wedding reception was as they wanted it, and I would be fearful that any criticism I might make would detract from the young couple's pleasant memories of "their day."

Wish I could have been there! I love the duggars examples! Jill and Derick are a great example of waiting!! I want to do the same someday! ;) Can't wait to see the episode. Do you know if they are going to be posting more pictures? Or are they waiting for the episode this fall? God bless!

May God Bless this very special couple. To watch their love story unfold has been a blessing and I wish them all the love and blessings...they certainly deserve the best! May you have a long special life together!

Congratulations and God's choicest blessing to Jill and Derick as husband and wife! I am thrilled his Mom was able to witness her son's special day. Thank God. My mother-in-law was, also, in stage 4 cancer as her son and I married (my husband's dad passed when he was 16) She was there and live an additional 5 years (long enough to hold her first grandchild-our daughter). May God grant Cathy many more years to be with her newly married son, the sweet daughter in law she wants to "spoil" and any grandchildren. I know a little bit about how they are feeling...

Congratulations to the new Mr and Mrs Derrick Dillard!!! I was praying for you from Australia on the 21st here and then on the 22nd as well since I wasn't sure about the difference in time!!! You were in my thoughts all day and I pray that God will bless you both!!!!! Congrats once again!!!

Lily and Ellie, I was just wondering if you are obligated to keep some things mum until Tlc airs the wedding, or can you dish? It sounds like you had a wonderful experience, looking forward to more tid bits, thanks for what you have shared so far.

A romantic and vintage style wedding. I knew it!! I love it! This is how I want my wedding and of course my first kiss at the alter! I am so happy for this new couple! May The Lord bless their marrige and ministry!

congratulations!!! Can't wait to see pictures and clips from the wedding. I am inspired by your family and hope to adopt our values and implement them in my life, passing them down to my children and so on and so forth.. Very happy for you all and supper excited for the newly weds as they embark on a loving marriage. look forward to you all opening the door to us all again in the next season of 19kids and counting.God Bless you all!!

So happy for you Derick and Jill. May God bless your marriage and your new chapter as husband and wife. I can not wait to see the photos of your special day and hopefully seeing it on tv live. Jeremiah 29:11

In regards to food, I went to a wedding once where the couple and families were ATI, and the reception did not have a full sit down dinner. It mostly had snacks like goldfish and M&Ms and nuts. You may think that sounds terrible, but it truly wasn't. This was a young couple and I actually felt good knowing that they had a nice wedding but didn't kill themselves financially. There also was no dancing so people just milled around and talked and ate.

Just wondering if anyone knows how old Dericks brother is? Maybe he could be a match for Jinger or Jena. Im so glad that Derick and his family now have a big family who will adore them all too.Oh yeah, does anyone know if cousin Amy was there, i haven't heard much about her.Did all the Bates attend?Thank you to anyone who can help answer these questions:-):-):-):-)

Derick's brother, Dan, is a couple of years younger than he is, and he graduated from college last year. Amy and the Bates family did attend the wedding, and there is a photo showing how Amy did her nails for the wedding on her Instagram account. Lawson Bates has posted a photo of himself with Josiah Duggar on his Instagram, and there are a few other photos on fan blogs, or fan Facebook pages. I believe that People magazine will be publishing photos of the wedding itself, and the wedding party, in the next few weeks, so the Duggars asked those in attendance not to post any photos of the rehearsal or wedding for at least three weeks. In time, we will see these photos in People, and can watch the video of the wedding when TLC airs it.

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Dillard! May you live a long life together filled with love, happiness and many blessings. Jill you looked beautiful... loved the classic dress and flowers. 1000 wedding guests.. wow, a lot of wedding gifts! lol What is a root beer float? Can't wait to see more wedding pictures. We watch the show in Australia. Love this Blog- the show is a long way behind in Australia and we appreciate being able to catch up on the latest with the Duggers.

Big congratulations to Jill and Derick. I wish you a long and happy life. Also my thoughts go out to Cathy. I sincerilly hope she will be alright. Just one thing bugs me, big time. Why Michelle's old wedding dress??? I understand Derick's dad uniform, as a reminder of him and to have something of him there. But the dress? Last I heard Michelle is still very much alive!

Congrats to the happy couple. Jill looks gorgeous! I suspect Jessa is already engaged but didn't want to steel Jill's "thunder", so I imagine we will be hearing about it very soon. I have heard that the wedding will be on in the fall, but I also read that TLC will be doing a wedding special later this summer. Any idea which is true? Surely TLC knows we are all chomping at the bit to see it!

What an amazing couple you make. Congrats to Jill and Derick. You both are truly blessed and we wish you both nothing but happiness. You both come from such special families and we know that God will be watching over you. Thank you for sharing will all of us.

Very happy for them. I was privileged to attend a 1st kiss wedding and it was beautiful. The young woman was an amazingly beautoful in character [observed her with her 7 brothers as a young child] and likewise she was a georgeous bride a example of God's plan for women to be exemplary in the behavior and results in muchfavorwith God and the rest of the world. Would to God manyother girls will follow this example for the GLORY OF GOD.

I have watched this show for as long as it has been on television. I can not imagine having a family that size and all it takes to do it. However, parents could learn so much from watching this family. Its a lesson in parenting. I am so happy now they get to see their children marry. They will know they gave them all the tools for a happy marriage and for being great parents. Quite a family. I wish the newlyweds the best.

I truly believe in procreation to help grow God's glory. However, I don't think it's something in-laws and family should say anything about. Michelle, when Jill & Derick came to your home to announce their engagement, about the 1st thing you said to them was "We're going to be expecting grand babies very soon." Family planning should be done by the couple and when they start their family is personal. They may want to wait and do some Missionary Work first. And what it the couple are infertile ? It would be devastating, to say the least. People who are old enough to be married should be allowed to decide when to start their family, without any pressure. We have 9 children and are hoping for many grand babies, but it's up to our kids, not us.

@AnonymousI think that is objective and well stated. I am pro-life, pro-family, and hope that God blesses Jill and Derick with a lovely family. That said, I lived with the pain of infertility and never birthed a single child (though we have children.) I agree, -let the married couple focus on the details of their family, knowing you've raised them to accept every child as a gift from God. They *know* this. Let them walk it out now.

I wish Jill and Derick the best. This has become something of a circus though. None of the kids have moved out until marriage and all of them are famous because of The Duggars conservative birth control beliefs. What's going to happen to all the young kids when the show stops? Maybe they've become so RICH they have lost their core values. Est. worth online of 3.5million dollars.

Are J & D going to be moving into the little house Josh and Anna used to live in? Or will they settle somewhere nearer to Derick's mother since she's ailing? Is there another mission in the immediate future? Or something else entirely?

Congratulations Derrick and Jill. I look forward to watching as much as you are willing to share with everyone the next season in your lives. You look so happy in your pictures which I'm sure reflects your hearts. I am so happy that their are Christian families that set an example of being in the world but not of the world. I will continue to lift your family up in prayer, especially your mom, Cathy. God Bless your union always.

I would be totally surprised if Cousin Amy and the Bates did NOT attend! What a beautiful couple! I pray that God wraps his healing arms around Cathy and gives her many more years to love Derick and Jill and all their babies!

@Anonymous WOW! maybe Michelle has that type of a relationship with her daughter that makes it OK for HER MOTHER to make the comment. I am pretty sure that Jill has talked of these things with HER mom. Leave them alone and let them rejoice in THEIR way with their families....INCLUDING comments about future grandkids!!! I asked my daughter many times when I was going to get to be a grandmother, also dropped hints about having one as a gift for a holiday and so on. Well, She blessed me with my FIRST grandson a year ago next month. We always giggled about it, talked about it sometimes on serious levels, but I was never EXCLUDED from her talking about having babies. God gave her her blessed little boy when HE saw fit for her to have him. :-)

Love your show and watching your family grow Michelle you have a heart of an angel and your girls and boys are so preciouios as all children are . looking forward to more shows as your family continues to grow with the new marriages Thank you CO

Congrats to the happy couple! Prayers too for Cathy who is battling cancer. Can't wait to see the wedding episode too. The root beer floats were a brilliant idea. Makes me want to go make one for myself! May God keep you all in his tender care.

Your an adorable couple hope u take good care of dericks momma and she can be there for the blessed arrival of their new baby they are fortunate to have a wonderful family and support of the bates family behind. Them

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Welcome to the premiere source for factual, encouraging updates on Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar and their 19 kids (TLC's 19 Kids and Counting & Counting On). Our site is not maintained by the Duggars, but we (Lily and Ellie) are personal friends of the family.